A personal massager isn’t a new thing. But just like the art of massage keeps evolving through time, massage tools are doing the same. The last few years saw the introduction of portable massage devices in the form of massage guns.
Utilizing percussion therapy, a massage gun provides pounding pressure to the target muscle area. The pummeling action draws more blood, and thus more oxygen and nutrients, into the area to facilitate faster muscle recovery and eliminate soreness faster.
Massage guns in Australia run the spectrum from very cheap to very expensive. What we’re looking to compare today are the mid-priced massage guns. So without further ado, this is the Hydragun vs. Hyperice Hypervolt Review.
You can also buy massage guns at MMTrade. They have the best in class products and good reviews as well as ratings.
What Is It?
Hydragun was launched in Australia fairly recently. It has the likes of 10x Kickboxing World Champion, John Wayne Parr, and 2x Caged Muay Thai champion, Chris Bradford singing its praises, among a myriad of other sporting personalities. There’s currently only one model available.
Hyperice meanwhile, was founded a decade ago in California, USA. They have several models of massage guns available in the market. Hyperice has partnered with high-profile athletes like Naomi Osaka. For this review, we’re comparing the Hyperice Hypervolt.
The Hydragun retails for A$399. The Hyperice Hypervolt goes for A$529.95.
What’s in the Box?
What can one expect to receive with every purchase?
Hydragun:
- Massage gun
- Protective Carrying Case
- 6 Attachment Heads (4 regular and 2 stainless steel)
- 3-pin AC Charger (G-Type/UK-Type)
- Universal Adapter
- 1.5 Years Warranty
- 30-Day Return Guarantee
Hypervolt:
- Massage gun with Bluetooth capacity
- 5 Head Attachments and Pouch
- Wall Charger
- 1 Year Warranty
The Hydragun comes with a protective carry case that fits all attachment heads, the charger, and the universal adapter along with the massage gun itself. The warranty is good for 18 months so it’s a bit longer than Hypervolt’s.
The Hypervolt massage gun has Bluetooth capability, allowing you to connect to the Hyperice App. The app has personalized programs and routines that track your activities. However, it doesn’t come with a carry case, although one can buy a case from the Hyperice website for A$69.95.
First Impression
Both the Hydragun and Hypervolt come in hard cardboard boxes. The white Hydragun box simply has the company’s red wave logo printed in the middle. Opening it shows the black carry case, this time with the word HYDRAGUN rubber embossed. The carry case feels sturdy. Inside the case is the massage gun itself, with the attachment heads and charger all in their little dedicated spaces so they don’t get tossed around. There’s also a user manual included. The actual massage gun has some heft and a premium feel. Three of the attachment heads are made from hard plastic, two from stainless steel, and one from firm foam. The handle is angled a bit, giving a more natural grip.
For the Hypervolt, a true-to-size photo of the device is printed on the box cover so you already know what’s inside. No carry case but the box is nice and has a magnetic closure. Inside is the massage gun, 4 hard plastic attachment heads (one already attached to the device), 1 ball attachment head similar to the Hydragun’s, and the charger.
The Hypervolt has a shiny, steel body and a black rubber handle. There’s a green strip at the bottom that lights up when the device is turned on. Weight-wise, it’s slightly heavier at 1.2kg. The Hydragun is around 1kg. The handle girth is also slightly wider so people with smaller hands may not find it as comfortable to use.
Setting Up
Both massage guns come fully assembled out of the box.
Setting the Hydragun for use is very intuitive. Simply choose the attachment head you want to use and put it into the slot at the front of the device.
A single click turns the massage gun on. One can pretty much use it out of the box if there’s some factory charge left over. If not, charging it for 3 hours will give enough juice for up to 6 hours of use. To cycle through the speed settings, you just need to keep clicking the middle button.
The Hypervolt charging time takes around 2 hours, so a bit quicker than the Hydragun. However, it also only lasts up to 3 hours on a single charge. Also, it has two power buttons – one at the base of the battery and one at the back of the device. The bottom power button must be flipped on before the back button will work. Once that’s okay, the back button also works to adjust the speed settings.
Volume Test
Volume is an important criterion for choosing a massage gun, if we do say so ourselves. You don’t want a device that sounds like a jackhammer and drowns out the sound of the immediate vicinity as it pummels your muscles to submission. Massage is meant to relax. Noise is not relaxing.
Having said that, the Hypervolt certainly isn’t loud, but it’s not quiet either. It’s more of a manageable rumble. In comparison, the Hydragun is the “MMTrade”, according to their website and that’s actually not unfounded. It’s supposed to be only between 30-50dB and it really is very quiet. So quiet you can massage the crook of your shoulder and still hear the television.
The Attachment Heads
Frankly, the attachment heads for both of these massage guns feel the same. The same plastic feel as the flat heads, and the same foam feel as the ball head. Visually, they do appear slightly different. The Hydragun bullet head, for example, has a more tapered, pointy end while the Hypervolt bullet head is more blunt-ended.
However, one edge (or in this case, 2) the Hydragun has is the extra stainless steel heads. They’re fantastic for using over clothes and also great on the skin, especially when using oils or lotion to assist with the massage.
Power
When it comes to massage guns, more than the aesthetics and superficial features, the important thing is the power. In this case, power refers to speed, amplitude, and to some degree the stall force.
Amplitude refers to how deep the attachment heads go. The higher the amplitude, therefore, the deeper the hits. If you’re a fan of deep tissue massages, then checking the amplitude is important. The Hydragun and the Hypervolt both have an 11mm amplitude.
The stall force is how much weight can be exerted on the massage gun before it, well, stalls. Again, this is mainly a factor if you like putting some pressure on the device to get even deeper into tissues. The Hydragun comes with a 30lb stall force. The Hypervolt has doubled at 60lbs.
The stall and amplitude work in balance with the speed settings. It’s the speed that allows for the device to be customized according to the user’s needs. After all, not every single person wants a deep tissue massage every time.
The Hydragun has 6-speed settings, ranging from 1200-3200 rpm. The Hypervolt has 3 speeds between 2000-3200 rpm.
Extras
Finally, let’s look at the extra features that come with these massage guns.
For the Hypervolt, it’s particularly nice to be able to read the battery level from the control surface. On top of that, the green light strip changes colors as the battery drains (turning yellow and then orange and finally red.) Hyperice also came out with an app that partners with their devices.
The Hydragun has a pretty simple battery indicator in comparison. Three small lights at the back of the device indicate battery level. However, it does come with a carry case and more attachment heads and speed levels compared to the Hypervolt. The battery lasts a good long while. Finally, the handle is made from nano-scale silicone material that makes it easy to use even when the hands are sweaty.
Summary
After all, that, let’s summarize how these two massage guns stack up against each other.
The Hypervolt has a higher stall force which is great for people that need added pressure for an even deeper massage. The power light indicator is also a nice touch.
However, the Hydrogen allows for more customization because it has more speed settings and attachment heads. It also trumps the competition on noise level, weight, and build. Plus it has a carry case included with the purchase already. The Hypervolt carry case can be purchased on their website for A$69.95.
So, Hydragun vs. Hyperice Hypervolt, which one wins? While Hypervolt has impressive stall force, you’d find you mostly won’t need that much pressure anyway. The strip light is nice visually but doesn’t really add a lot of value since the display shows the battery level anyway. If you’re looking for a more balanced massage gun, then the Hydragun is the better choice. From the design to weight to noise level, functionality, and extras, the much less expensive massage gun delivers the best bang for your buck.
